Batavia-based Aldi to open 650 new stores

Published: Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 2:20 p.m. CDT

BATAVIA – Batavia-based Aldi has announced that it plans to open 650 new stores across the United States by 2018, according to a news release.

"We’re ramping up our expansion plans to meet growing demand for Aldi from customers across the country,” Aldi president Jason Hart in the release. "Recently, we successfully entered new markets such as Houston and expanded our presence in competitive markets like South Florida and New York City. At Aldi, we believe that great quality can be affordable, and we are eager to bring the Aldi difference to new markets like Southern California.”

Aldi officials did not say how many more stores they plan to open in the Chicago area. The grocery chain currently has about 1,300 stores in 32 U.S. states and employs more than 18,000 people, making it the 25th-largest grocer in the nation, according to "Supermarket News" weekly trade magazine.

Aldi opened its first American store in Batavia in 1976. Aldi's 56-acre campus at 1200 N. Kirk Road in Batavia serves as the U.S. headquarters for Aldi Corp.